What Should We Bring?

22 thoughts on “What Should We Bring?”

1. Definitely add Moleskin to the “first aid” group, to avoid blisters and chafing. You may find yourself using it so much that it gets moved to the “clothing” section.

2. I like the list. My suggestion would be a lip balm in a tube with SPF. Sunburned lips are no fun. I like Carmex in a tube rather than a stick – doesn’t melt all over when it’s hot. Good Luck!

3. Sounds great. Wish I could join you! Dont forget to pick up a pool noodle on the west coast.

4. it won’t be long now!

5. So exciting!!!! I’m somewhat adverse to giving advice, but since you asked 🙂 here’s my first thoughts:

   1) Leave the rain gear. Take a poncho or a small umbrella for rainy “town days”. Gossamer gear makes my fav backpacking and travel umbrellas.

   2) I think you’ll learn which cook gear you won’t use. The more you use, the more you have to clean. Hiking the AT taught me how to do so much with one pot, my fingers, and a sip of water.

   3) Don’t be afraid to send stuff home. Or to send it ahead to yourself. Or to replace it with something more multi-utilitarian, lighter-weight, stronger, etc.

   I try to operate under the philosophy to use everything I’m carrying at least once a day…(even an umbrella can provide sun shade). Of course on a bike, you may have a set of town things and a set of bike things that aren’t interchangeable. While hiking, food became the more important space taker. Again, on a bike, you have more on-the-fly food options in gas stations and readily available grocery stores…but my guess is that burning 5000+ calories a day will take up lots of space in your bags.

   Y’all gonna have such fun! I’m jealous. Go get that road!!

   Rafferty

   Rafferty

6. Oh!! And butt paste. You’re probably gonna use lots of butt paste. Chamois Butt’r is a popular one.

   Rafferty

7. Can’t believe you got all that “stuff” into those bags!
   And, I predict you will leave some of it behind as you see it’s not needed. Good luck!

8. It looks like a well thought out list. I know you are bringing journals books and drawing pens (and math workbook :-). Any other downtime “activity?” Travel size board game (cribbage?) or deck of cards, maybe? Not sure if y’all are game people.

9. Excited for you both!!!
   Looking forward to the postings and the rerun party!!!

10. You will do fine with what you packed . You will have to , right? Do you have bike locks for when you stop in a town and do you need big spray? I hope you post during your trip. ❤️

11. I”d add a swiss army knife & duck tape. Just saying….

12. I’d dump all the cooking gear. You are not going to be cooking when there other options. Every pound you carry will be a pound you will come to hate on the hills that last for days. Peanut butter sandwiches may become your go to.

13. Looks well thought out… love to hear the updates!!
    Duck tape
    Some little line to just have…
    I wish you all the best… we are all with you!! ❣️

14. I started out with about that much gear, but dropped down to 1/3 of it. Great comments above. Also, too many clothes, too much cooking gear, leave the books, and I love the idea (above) of shipping things. Won’t need winter gear until the Rockies? Here’s the test to see if you have paired down enough. Load up your bike, then pick it up, carry it / drag it 100ft up an embankment, and then lift it over a guard rail.

15. Great list – a lot of items! However, are you bringing/wearing a pr of long pants? (You list down jackets, shorts and bathing suits.) How about a pot holder so you don’t burn your hands removing pot from stove. Include a thinsulate pair of gloves for those cold mornings and nights. Yes to the moleskin and maybe add an Ace bandage. Send things ahead or home. Have a safe and wonderful trip. Looking forward to your email journal.

16. Hi, you’ve thought out a lot, but I think you’ve got too much clothing. You can always whittle it down and if you find you need something you don’t have, go to a thrift shop or find a yard sale.

    Specifically, if you have more than two pairs of bicycle shorts per person, that can be too much. Also, cotton socks can be heavy and won’t dry well. I’d go for padded polypropoline (spelling?) socks and two pair is fine. Like the bike shorts (and or T-shirts), you can wash one and wear one, bicycling with the drying items having off the back of the bike.

    One pair of pants that can zipper down into shorts is good for non-bicycling wear and a warm shirt is good, but down seems like overkill to me. When down gets wet, by the way, it can be useless. I’d replace with fleece, and you can usually get functional fleece jackets at a thrift shop too.

    Here’s another thought about hats. Baseball hats don’t always provide sufficient sun protection under a helmet. If it’s really going to be warm, I go for the ridiculous looking (but practical) fishing hat with a big hole cut in the center. That way my face and back of neck are protected nicely from midday sun and yet I can “breath” through the hole in the hat.

    Now feeding a 16-year-old with the proverbial hollow leg is a challenge. And…if you’re camping, you don’t want everything to smell of food so that a small contingent of pesty racoons (etc.) just try like made to get into your panniers. However, bags of nuts (cashews, walnuts, etc.) mixed with raisins can travel well and satisfy. And…if cheese is a favorite, pick it up at a local store and munch on it as well. I’m sure others suggested dried fruit, but I’m also a fan of extra just-add-water-food, like hot oatmeal & hot cocoa. Even if you don’t carry a stove, you can probably just ask a gas station/etc. for two cups of hot water.

    Have a great time! And bring extra tent poles/or whatever kind of fasteners needed.

17. I don’t see toiletries listed, but sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and chapstick (or vaseline).

    A headlamp (LED light on a headband) is super useful.

    Many people carry business cards with their blog address on it, to hand out. You can get 250 printed for just about $10.

    Cooking is an individual preference. Personally, I wouldn’t carry so much gear. A source of boiling water is handy for morning coffee / tea / hot chocolate, etc, or hydrating a freeze-dried meal. More than that means cleaning and drying to me.

    Given the time you’re leaving, it’s possible you won’t see any nights below freezing. I got by fine with a 40-degree bag, and just wearing more clothes to sleep if it got cool.

    Also remember that you WILL be able to buy most anything you need along the way, and can call an Uber or Lyft as rescue if things got really bad, so it’s not necessary to carry gear for every contingency.

    1. Oops, never mind on the headlamps; I see you have them.

       Have a wonderful tour!

18. I didn’t see that you are taking any soap of any kind. We used to camp a lot years ago and took only Dr. Bronner’s soap, I think the peppermint. You can still purchase it at Whole Foods, Lois’ and probably at the Portland Food Coop.
    We used it to wash our dishes, clothes, bodies, hair and even our teeth. It is all you need!

19. Yes, sunscreen for your nose and lips. And, Dr.Bronner’s soap (peppermint) for washing clothes, dishes, your body, hair and even your teeth. And it doesn’t harm the environment.

20. Thinking of you often as your departure day nears!

21. After our first day of walking the Camino, we crossed the Pyrenées that day, we packed up a box of all the things we thought we couldn’t live without and sent it to our final destination. We never needed any of it. You will be able to buy things if you really need anything. I say, take it all and discover as you go what you don’t need and either give it away or send it home.
    You’ve got this Leah and Oakley.

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